Tables, Ladders and Chairs--UPDATED

The Simmons campaign issued a lengthy press release in response to an earlier post about whether Linda McMahon would testify at tomorrow's education committee hearing on a bill aimed at preventing and treating concussions among student athletes.

McMahon used to run a company that had some experience dealing with the issue of head injuries and athletes performers. In fact, World Wrestling Entertainment has a detailed policy on the subject posted on its corporate website. That policy dates back to 2008 and stipulates, among other things, that "the intentional use of a folding metal chair to 'strike' an opponent in the head'' could result in a fine and/or suspension.

So how do you explain this match, dubbed which took place in December, 2009, well after the wellness policy took effect? ("TLC," by the way, stands for Tables, Ladders and Chairs)

WWE Spokesman Robert Zimmerman said the policy is an evolving document that is constantly being worked on.

"In January 2010, WWE amended its Talent Wellness Program, specifically regarding the ImPACT™ Concussion Management Program originally instituted in 2008, eliminating the use of folding chairs or props to "strike" an opponent in the head,'' Zimmerman said in an email.

"Prior to this policy change, The Tables, Ladders and Chairs event in question took place on December 13, 2009,'' Zimmerman said. "Incidentally, no performer suffered a concussion during the TLC event."

UPDATE: Since this post went up, I received an email from James Caldwell, assistant editor of PWTorch.com.

"Also, The Undertaker [a WWE star performer] was nearly caught on fire during his ring entrance via a 'pyrotechnic miscommunication.' Now, WWE did keep Sheamus out of the ring the following week, but the fact remains WWE continues to produce equally-dangerous PPVs compare to the TLC PPV...just one month after their 'revision' to the concussion testing that Mr. Zimmerman referred to.

"Instead of wrestlers hitting each other with chairs, wrestlers's heads were bouncing off chain wiring and 'bullet proof' glass-paneled pods. Same effect? I believe so.''